We walked back after the Championship Game on cloud nine, we had had our pictures in our Championship t-shirts, hugged, laughed and cried. It was an amazing feeling. I walked back with one of the captains Matt Smith and I can't even remember what we talked about. I think we just kept looking at each other in amazement.
On our way back to the halls I noticed the Bus had arrived and we had still not had anything to eat but the Bucknell coaches had kept the cafeteria open. We had to pack yet and check out, the Coach driver was great and allowed us time to get showered, check out and eat. Whilst we ate we presented Foxy with his Birthday card, present and Chocolate Cup cake and sung Happy Birthday..........what a Birthday to remember.
We ate our last meal with Coach Guy and walked to the bus to say our farewells and it still hadn't sunk in.
For those that don't know - Zac played for me in 2008 for England U19's and we became good friends and kept in touch, he understands my coaching and brings his own experience, the lads loved him and I knew this would work as it did in 2013. I know Sam Chopper Harris or "Choppi" as Zac called him got on with him well.
We hadnt even had time to celebrate but Burkey got them going on the bus singing "Gold" (video to come). It was a 7 hour bus ride to Richmond, VA and the lads soon all fell asleep physically and mentally exhausted, I had a grin from ear to ear and drifted off soon after.
The next day after more food we made our way to the River City sports plex to attend the Brine National and play in two Showcase games against Conneticut and Long Island, I could tell the lads where tired and probably wanted to chill in the Hotel pool but we had travelled 7 hours for this and this was one of the biggest Tournaments in America. I. Not going to write much about the first game, we didn't turn up and where a little sloppy but played well in patches, young Cheetham scored again and TJ blasted home.
Our hosts where very nice and Joel Franklin that runs the tournament let us eat and d,rink in the tent after the first game. We went out to watch the end of a game before we where to play Long Island.
LI has always been a hotbed for Lacrosse and where last years Champions. We exchanged coins in a ceremony before the game and Matt Tatton and Jack Peacock where interviewed by toplaxrecruits.
We started slow again and I explained to the guys that we where not here to make up numbers and when playing another step up in competition we need to raise our game again, tidy up our game and spring not to our spots after all this was about national pride and Joel had asked for a battle and that's what we wanted to give them.
I think it was 4-2 at halftime with goals by Cam Syme and a great low to high shot from Ben Page-Laycock. In the second half things began to change we put a long pole - Jack Peacock at Faceoff to give Chas a break and Joe Cheetham dodged down the alley to score from a tight angle, Jake Parker who improved so much over the tour then scored with a blast to the top right hand corner, the bench went crazy and the fans around the field started to get behind us. We then created a fast break from agreat clear by Burke and Joe Baythorpe ripped a side arm shot in the bottom cornet we where tied against a team selected from one of the best Lacrosse States. We had a possession to win it towards the end of the game after a great defensive stop but time ran out, to be honest it felt like a win and the score keepers and parents etc surrounded us and gave us compliments, we continued to get people approaching us and congratulating us all afternoon, telling us how they loved our uniforms and had enjoyed the game against Long Island. Joel was delighted with the score and gave the boys shorts and pinneys as a congratulation. It had been worth the trip and the complex we had played in and organisation of this tournament was excellent. Thank you to all involved.
We all sat on the hill and watched the final content before we made our way back to the hotel for our last night.
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